Anemometer



Aug- 2 1938- A F; WALLER 2,125,365

ANEMOMETER Filed lD-ec. 2.9, '1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 l *n l p 23 'lilawww INVENTOR l b ,22 y @Zd g .if 20 B Aug. 2, 1938. F, WALLER 2,125,365

' ANEMOMETER Filed Dec.`29, 193,6 4 sheets-sheet s IN V EN TOR.

A TTQRNEYS.

Aug. 2, 41938. F. WALLER 2,125,365

' ANEMOMETER Fild Dec. 29, 1956 4 sheets-sneet-4 IN V EN TOR.

ex/@ZZA I Y T Patented Aug.l 2, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE 16Claims.

. This invention relates to anemometers.

eIt is an object of the invention to provide a device comprisingtwoconnected units, an exterior unit adapted tov'be placed in an exposedposition and havingva movable member responsive to changes in winddirection and velocity, and an interior unit adapted to be placedindoors and having a movable member controlled by the movable member ofthe exterior unit. Said interior unit is preferably provided with acalibrated scale such that direct readings of wind velocity anddirection may be had.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

A preferred embodiment of the invention selected for purposes ofillustration is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view througlrthe exterior unit.

20l Figure 2 ls a vertical sectional view through a; Figure '1 is aperspective vview of'the interior mechanism of the exterior unit.

Figure 8 is a Wiring diagram. Figure 9 is a top plan vievv scale of theinterior unit.

Figure 10 is a vertical section through the interior unit of a secondmodication. Figure 1l is a top plan view of the same with the coverremoved. n

Referring to the drawings, the exterior unit of the device illustratedin Figures 1, 2 and 3 comprises a substantially henusphericalshell lAWithin which is rigidly mounted a spider 2 whichycarries threeexpansible units such as the sylphon.A bellows 3. These bellows areequally spaced around the circumference of the hemispherical shell i asillustratedin Figure 3. Supportedat the ,center of 4the spider 2 is astud l having a spherical head 5 which supports the spherical socket lof the arm v1, thus forming a ball and socket joint. The arm 1 in turnis connected to a secondJ substantially hemispherical shell 8 of adiameter sumcient to fit over the shell Las illustrated in Figure .1.The stud 4 is so adjusted on the spider 2 that the center of the head5I' 5 is at the center of the spherical shellsl and 8,

of the calibrated (Gl. 'i3-55) so that'the shell 8 and the arm 'ly maybe moved in any direction on the head 5 as a center. A second spider 9is connected to the arm 1, and each of the arms of the spider! isconnected to the upper free end of one of the sylphon bellows 3 by meansof a flexible link Il.

Mounted at the top of the hemispherical shell 8 isa light hollowcylinder I2 which is exposed to the wind, and which when acted upon bythe wind can tilt theshell 8, the arm 1 and the spider 9 inanydirection. 4When tilted, of course, one or more of the sylphonbellows 3 will be expanded and one or more will be contracted, dependingupon the directionof the wind acting against the cylinder i2, and theextent to which the sylphon bellows are expanded or contracted will bedependent upon the force of the wind as hereinafter explained. A

The lower part of the hemispherical shell I carries a bushing i4 and acap l5 providing a. socket for the ball i6 which is integrallyconnectedto the tting i1. The said fitting may be secured to a roof orany other suitable exposed position, and the ball and socket jointpermits the unit to be adjusted so that the cylinder i2 normally standsvertically.

The bushing I4 .isprovided with the passage i8, and the ball i6 andfitting I1 are provided with a passage i9 which serve as conduits forthe capillary tubes 20, three in number, one of said tubes beingconnected to the interior of each of the sylphon bellows 3.

The interior unit illustrated in Figure 2 comprises a housing 22 havingtl'iree brackets 22 mounted therein, each bracket supporting anexpansible unit such ras the sylphon bellows 2l similar 4to the sylphonbellows 3. Each oi' the .bellows 24 is connected by a flexible link 25to a spider 26 carrying ,a lamp socket 21 having a lens 28 adapted toproject a beam of light against a hemispherical shell 29 formed oftranslucent material such as ground glass or celluloid. The spider 26carries a depending weight 30 which serves to normally maintain thespider 26 in horizontal position so that the beam of light is normallyprojected vertically. The interior of each of the bellows 24 isconnected to one 4of the capillary tubes 20.

The shell 29 is provided with a calibrated scale such that both forceand direction o! the wind can be read directly therefrom. lThus. asillustrated in Figure 9, a plurality of concentric circles 3l areprovided, and each circle has asso-4 ciated therewith a numeral 32indicating the force of the wind. In addition, compass markings 33 areprovided which indicate the direction of the wind. Thus, if the beam oflight showed at the point 34 of Figure 9, the observer would immediatelyknow that the wind was blowing at the ratefof thirty-live miles per hourfrom the direction eas'tfnortheast.

The operation of the device will be apparent from the foregoingdescription. The sylphon bellows 3 and 24 and the capillary tubes 20 arefilled, of course, with a suitable fluid, such as glycerine or oil, andany movement of the sylphon bellows 3 under the influence of wind actingon the cylinder |2is`imm'ediately transmitted to the correspondingsylphon Vbellows 24. As a result the spider 26 is tilted'correspondingly to the tilting of the spider 9, and the motion of thebeam of light which is projected on the shell' 29 follows the motion ofthe cylinder l2.

In the modied form of the device illustrated in Figures 4 to 8 inc1usiveelectrical instead of hydraulic. means are used to transmit motion fromthe exterior to the interior units. In the embodiment illustrated, thebase member 48 of the exterior unit supports the lower hemisphericalshell 4 l', and is provided with a pair of standards 42 on which ispivotally mounted a/gimbal ring .43. shaft 44 whose axis isperpendicular to the axis of the shaft 45 which supports-the ring. Theshaft 44 carries-an arm 46 'which is secured to the hemispherical shell'41 which fits over the shell 4l as in the previously describedembodiment. The shell 41 also carries a cylindrical member 49 whichserves the same functions as thev cylinder l2. AThe uarm 46 is providedwith a depending portion 49 which may carrya weight.

similar to the Weight 38 or which may be connected to a spring 50whichserves to maintain the cylinder'48 in normally vertical position.

Mounted on the ring 43 is an apron 5| of suitable insulating material,carrying a variable resistance element 52 cooperating with the contactmember 53 mounted on the shaft44. A similar variable resistance element54 is mounted on the apron 55 of suitable insulating material, carriedby the bracket 42 and cooperates with the contact member 56 secured tothe shaft 45; It will be understood that the contact members 53 and 56are suitably insulated from the respective shafts on which they aremounted.

The interior unit comprises a housing 66 within which is mounted abracket v6| carrying a pair of gimbal rings 62 and 63, the ring 62 beingpivoted on the bracket 6| by means of shaft 64, and the ring 63 beingpivoted on the ring 62 by means of shaft 65. A solenoid 66 is mounted onthe bracket 6l and cooperates with an armature 61 mounted on shaft 64and a solenoid 68 is mounted on ring 62 and cooperates with an armature69 mounted on shaft 65.

As in the previous embodiment, a beam of light is projected against atranslucent shell 116, and it is possible to securethe lamp socketdirectly to the inner gimbal ring 63, but in the interest of accuracy,it is preferred to mount the lamp socket 1| on the housing 60 and todirect the beam therefrom against a mirror'12, mounted in the gimbalring 63, the arrangement being such that the beam of light is focus'edon the shell 1 0. .It will be understood that as the Inrror 12 istilted,

Y the beam of light will move on the shell 10.

The wiring diagram for this embodiment is illustrated in Figure 8, wires15 and 16 being connected to a suitable source of current, and beingconnected directly to the lamp 11. A wire Pivotally mounted on the ring43 is av almacenaA nected to the solenoids 66 and 68 through Wires 19and 88 respectively. Return wire 8| connects the variable'resistors tothe wire. 16. The wires 18, 19, 86 and 8l may be cabled together toconnect the exterior unit to the interior unit as illustrated in Figures4 and 5.

As will be understood, the arm 46 is moved under the influence of windacting on the cylinder 48, and the contacts 53 and 56 moving along theresistors 52 and 54 will vary the voltage of the current flowing throughthe solenoids 66 and 68 and will thereby cause movement of theirrespective armatures. This results in movement of the gimbal rings 62and 63 and movement of the beam reflected from the mirror .12 in amanner corresponding to the movement of the cylinder 48 and will therebyprovide an indication of the -trated in Figures l0 and 11 is intended tobe used in connection with the exterior unit illustrated inFigure 4. Itdiffers from the interior unit illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 in thattwo independently operated mirrors 85 and 86 are used in place of asingle mirror.` In this form of the device, the mirror 85- is mounted ona horizontal shaft B1 supported on the bracket 88 and the mirror 86 ismounted on a shaft 89 lying ln a. vertical plane, but tilted in vorderto reflect the beam from the lamp 98 against the mirror 85 which in turnreects the beam against the translucent shell 9i. The mirror 85 is con--'trolled vby the solenoid 92 cooperating with the armature 93'and themirror 86 is actuated by the electrical circuit in the same manner asthe solenoids 66 and 68 in Figure 8.

As a further modification, the variable resistors mounted for universalmovement and adapted to be tilted in any direction by wind actingthereon, a second member remote from said'rst member and independentlymounted for universal movement, and means controlled by said first namedmember to cause said second named member to move responsively tomovements of said rst named member. v

2.' An anemometer comprising 'a member mounted for universal movementand adapted to be tilted in any direction by wind acting thereon, asecond member remote from said first member and independently mountedfor universal movement, means controlled by` said first named member tocause said second named member to move ,responsively to movements ofsaid first named y member, and means including a scale whereby the v maybereplaced by variable transformers if dev said rst member andindependently mounted for universal movement, and means controlled bysaid first named member Ato cause said second named member to moveresponsively to movements of said first named member.

4. AnA anemometer comprising a member mounted for universal movement andadapted to be moved in any direction by wind acting thereon, yieldingmeans tending to restore said member to normal position, the directionof said movement being controlled by the direction of the Wind, and theamplitude of said movement being controlled by the force of the wind,and means remote from said' member and independently mounted foruniversal movement and controlled by said member' ber for causingsaidbeam to move responsively to' movements of said member.

6. An anemometer comprising a member mounted for universal movement andadapted to be moved in any direction by Wind acting thereon, yieldingmeans tending to restore said member to normal position, the directionof said movement being controlled by the direction of the wind, and theamplitude of said movement being controlled by the force of the wind, atranslucent shell,

` means for projecting aibeam of light'thereon, and

means 'controlled by said member for causing said beam lto moveresponsively to movements of said member.

j 7. An anemometer comprising a member mounted for universal movementand adapted to be moved in any direction by wind acting thereon, meansfor producing avbeam of light, means mounted independently -foruniversal movement for supporting said light beam producing-means, andmeans controlled byA said member for causing said beamy of light to moveresponsively to movements of said member. i

8. An 1 anemometer l comprising aA member mounted for universal movementand adapted to be moved in any direction by wind acting thereon, meanswhereby the extent of such motion in any direction is in relation to theforce of the wind,

means for producing a beam of light, and means controlled by vsaidmember for causing said beam of light to move responsively to movementso! said member.

9. An anemometer comprising a member mounted for universal movement andadapted to be moved in any direction by wind acting thereon, -A

yielding means tending to restore said member to normal position, meansfor producing a beam of Y light, and means controlled by said member forcausing said beam of light to move responsively to movements of saidmember.

10. An anemometer comprising a member mounted for universal movement andadapted to be moved in any' direction by wind acting thereon,

a plurality of expansible units connected tosaid member and adapted tobe expanded or contracted by movement thereof, a second series ofexpansible units remote from the nrstbut operatively connected thereto,and rmeans operated by said second series of expansible units to moveresponsively to movements of said member.

11. An anemometer comprising a member mounted for universal movement andadapted to be moved in any direction by wind acting thereon, a pluralityof expansible units connected to said member and adapted to be expandedor contracted by movement thereof, a second series of expansible unitsremote from the rst but operatively connected thereto, means operated bysaid second series of expansible units to move responsively to movementsof said member, and yielding 'means tending to maintain said member innormal upright position and exerting increasing force as said member ismoved away from normal position.

12. An anemometer comprising a member mounted for universal movement, apair of variable resistors connected thereto, said resistors beingmounted on perpendicularly disposed axes and being operated by movementof said member to vary the effective resistance thereof, a pair oisolenoids having armatures mounted on perpendicularly disposed axes,said solenoids being in circuit with said resistors andcontrolled'thereby, and' means operated by lsaid solenoids to moveresponsively to movements of said member.

13. An anemometer comprising a member mounted for universal movement, apair of variable resistors connected thereto, said resistors beingmounted on perpendicularly disposed axes and being operated by movementof said member to vary the effective resistance thereof, a pair ofsolenoids having armatures mounted on perpendicularly disposed` axes,said solenoids being in circuit with said resistors andcontrolledthereby,

means operated by said solenoids to move responsively to movements ofsaid member, and yielding means tending to maintain said member innormal upright position and exerting increasing force as said member ismoved away from normal position. i

14. An anemometer comprising a member mounted for universal movement,means for producing a beam of light, a pair of solenoids, means operatedby said solenoids for varying the direction'of said beam of light, andmeans controlled by said 'member for 'varying the current flowingthrough said solenoids.

,a second member remote from said rst member and independently mountedfor universal movement, and iiuid pressure means controlled by said irstnamed member and operating said second named member to 'cause saidsecond named member to move responsively to movements of said firstnamed member.

16. An anemometer comprising a member mounted for universal movement andadapted to be tilted in any direction by wind acting thereon, a secondmember remote from said rst member and independently mounted foruniversal movement, and electrical means controlled by said iirst namedmember and operating said second named member to cause said second namedmember to move responsively to movements ot said nrst named member.

FRED WALLER.

